Nuremburg

Great breakfast buffet this morning at the B&B Hotel chain in Wurzburg. Unusual items: a covered electric dish with hot gravel kept the boiled eggs good and hot! Five different kinds of single serve coffee were on hand and dispensed. And, of course, the normal European fare of 3 different meats, cheeses, tomatoes and cucumbers along with cereal toast, juice and fruit. Such a hearty breakfast always allows us to skip lunch.

No trials getting out of the city and on the road to Nuremburg. Of course, we had plans of what to see and do but they went awry. No Nazi Documentation Center or Palace of Justice where the trials were held. We got to Nuremberg and couldn’t find our way to these two destinations so decided to park and to see what we could see. 

Parking! Another great adventure since we don’t know the language. I accosted a couple to ask about street parking because the sign appeared to be telling us we had to have a pass. With Slavik accents, they discussed and agreed with me only to direct me to the entrance to public parking. WRONG! I tried to enter but couldn’t get a ticket to dispense.  In pressing the “help” button, a kind man interjected in English from the woman who answered and explained that I was trying to enter the exit! Ugh! Around the corner was the entrance and parking was a breeze.

We headed for the Handwerkhof area which was marked as a photo spot and it didn’t disappoint.

We entered a stone gate to find a small little village of shops for every taste and everything was handmade by local artists. I purchased a leather handbag and the artisan adjusted the strap for a carry bag instead of a shoulder one. So we walked down the old town walls and found the Skulpturengarten with sculptures by more artisans.

Returning to Handwerkhof, we visited the bakery had samples and some cute rolling pins that made beautiful designs on the cookies. Got my travel ornament for my tree at another shop and a little glass for my bathroom at the pottery shop. With each stop I practiced a little German they practiced their English on me…some with less English but hand gestures and small words got the point across and made it fun! Tschuss!

Crossed the road to the T.I. and got some directions to the German National Museum since time was running short before closing.  It was nice NOT to have to drive the car, fight the traffic and find our way. We spent an hour and a half there viewing the Middle Ages exhibits and then the Kultural & Kunst (art) area.

Anatomy in ivory...Operation anyone? Avoid the buzzers!

Pillar depicting the life of Christ

I can relate!  Can you?

Walking unafraid towards Death.  Everyone's journey in life.

Gorgeous ceiling!

The information lady at the front desk gave great directions to a local restaurant called Steichele where the local Nuremburgers (small bratwurst) are offered. They’re grilled and offered many places but Steichele has a “sour sausage” dish where the wursts are cooked in vinegar with cabbage and onions. Six little sausages and bread with a wonderful glass of white wine was my dinner. Melodie got the grilled sausages with potato salad (vinegar, mustard, beef bouillon, salt & pepper) so we shared our meals eating 3 of the sausages from each other’s menu selection. Deeelish!  

Great Restaurant suggestion.

Two kinds of sausage dishes. 

German beer is really tasty! I think I might switch!

Andreas, our waiter, was so cute and went overboard by getting us English menus and a wine taste of the Scheurebe for me before I ordered a .25L glass.

Tips are not expected or required in Europe but we left him a tip anyway. We read that hotel room staff are the lowest paid and appreciate a tip of 1-2 euros. Someone reminded us that the cleaning staff may change assigned rooms so leaving a tip daily instead of just once for your entire stay is a much better choice for equity. Currently the exchange rate is $1.00 buys .82 euro.

Walked to the car and tried to find our way out of the city. Stopped at a local Ibis Hotel since ours was the same chain name and Melodie got the experience of getting directions from someone who spoke little English while I waited in the car in a no parking zone. But she AND he did beautifully and the directions got us to our beds by 9:30.

Small but it does the job.

Another breakfast buffet awaits in the morning and a 1 hour drive to Rothenburg ob der Tauber (Rothenburg of the Tauber River) and the Meistertrunk (Whitsun) Festival.

It’s after midnight and I must get some sleep. We don’t have to get up early or leave before 11 so we’re going to take advantage of a leisurely morning like we had today.  Nighty-night!